Slight increase in physical activity among Italians but they are still too sedentary

The share of Italians who regularly do physical activity is growing slightly and is returning to pre-Covid levels, although the percentages remain low: 50% for adults, 42% for those over 65. The "sedentary" population is slightly decreasing, from 31% in 2020-2021 to 27% today. This is the picture for the two-year period 2023-2024 drawn by the Passi and Passi d'argento surveillance coordinated by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). In fact, half of the adults are "physically active" (45% in 2020-2021), 23% are "partially active" and 27% are "sedentary".

A characteristic that increases with age (22% among 18-34 year olds, 31% among 50-69 year olds), among women (30%, against 23% of men) and among people with many economic difficulties (40%, against 23% of those who have none) or low level of education (49% among those with at most an elementary school diploma, 22% among graduates). The figure is higher in the southern regions (38%, against 24% in the Center and 16% in the North). In Calabria it exceeds 50% of the population.

Data after the pandemic

"Sedentary lifestyle in the last four years seems to confirm a downward trend that began to be observed after the pandemic, precisely in the areas with the highest prevalence", explains Maria Masocco , Cnapps researcher and head of surveillance. "It has fallen to the values ​​of 2013-14 throughout the country, marking the best results, in terms of reduction, precisely in the southern regions". 42% of over-65s reach the recommended levels (35% in the previous survey), 22% do some form of physical activity and are therefore "partially active", while 37% are sedentary. Here too, the figure increases with age (56% in over-85s), among women (40% versus 33%), among those with many economic difficulties (46% versus 31%) and those with a low level of education (47% versus 33%).

Those who live alone are more sedentary

It is higher among those who live alone (42% versus 35%), and in the Southern regions (48% versus 32% in the North). The surveys show that health care operations are still too low: only 3 out of 10 adults report having received advice to do regular physical activity; among overweight people, the figure reaches 37% and among people with chronic diseases, 45%. But the figures are also low among over 65s: only 27% received advice in the 12 months preceding the interview. Among overweight people, the figure barely reaches 28%, 34% among obese people.